As Galarian Pokémon are taking center stage in Sword and Shield, these are the natural next inclusions for the Galar region’s exclusive forms.
The introduction of Galarian Pokémon means that lots of our old favorites are about to get some love with updated Typings and character models. Much like the Alolan forms of the past Generation, the Galarian forms of some oft-forgotten ‘mons may just strike the meta as a competitively viable entity again.
Adding a dual Typing to a Pokémon, or even changing the Pokémon’s Type altogether can be responsible for changing up the Pocket Monster’s purpose. For instance, if the Pokémon gains new Type resistances or immunities, it may bump it higher up in Trainer’s choices for Pokémon to battle with.
While there isn’t always logic behind what Pokémon get new forms in either the Alola or Galar regions, there are some threads of consistency that can be followed. The Alola ‘mons would at times relate to the region that they adapted to, and as both Galarian Koffing and Zigzagoon’s line prove, the Galar Pokémon will mostly do the same.
As Fairy-Types are the latest and greatest Type, many fans may be clamoring for more of their old favorites to be gifted this somewhat OP Typing. However, there are still many more Galarian Pokémon combinations out there, with the following proving that there is still life left in the following Pokémon.
Galarian Aegislash
Typing: Steel/Dark
Weaknesses: 4x Fighting, 2x Ground, 2x Fire
Resistances: 1/2x Normal, Flying, Rock, Ghost, Steel, Grass, Ice, Dragon, Dark, Immune to Poison and Psychic
Aegislash deserves some Galarian love in the Gen 8 games if only for its namesake. In the Steel/Dark typing, the 4x Fighting-Type weakness might turn off some, but others would see the nine resistances and two immunities as Galarian Aegislash’s best attributes.
It would maintain its Stance Change ability, and might even usher in new Dark-Type moves in the Pokémon series. Although it seemed inevitable that Solrock and Lunatone would play a major role in Pokémon Sun and Moon, the fact that they didn’t doesn’t leave me with much hope for this sentient weapon. However, if Game Freak does fix the wrongs of series past, they will give Aegislash a new Galarian Pokémon form to both appease fans and add a new batch of resistances to this unique Pocket Monster.
Galarian Florges
Typing: Grass/Flying
Weaknesses: 4x Ice, 2x Flying, Poison, Rock, Fire
Resistances: 1/2x Fighting, Water, 1/4x Grass, Immune to Ground
While this isn’t exactly a unique typing, Florgess’ original Fairy typing is somewhat bland. Giving it something that will help it stand out a bit from the crowd might change up this ‘mon just enough to bring it higher up in the meta.
As with Aegislash, it would gain a 4x weakness, this time to Ice-Type moves. The 1/4 Grass resistance along with the Ground immunity add new layers of competitive viability to this garden Pokémon, as will the resistance to the common Fighting-Type moves.
It would only be fitting that a garden Pokémon would get a new Galarian Pokémon form in Sword and Shield, seeing as the Queen’s garden is known for its brilliance and radiance. It would take a bit of a character design overhaul to get Florges to look realistically like a Flying-Type, but the Grass-Type potential is already within its current design.
Galarian Dragonite
Typing: Dragon/Ice
Weaknesses: 2x Fighting, Rock, Steel, Dragon, Fairy
Resistances: 1/2x Water, Grass, Electric
Dragonite’s downfall has always been Ice-Type moves, as its current Dragon/Flying typing leaves it 4x susceptible to moves like Ice Beam and Ice Shard. It would maintain its weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy-Type moves, but that’s a decent tradeoff for the shedding of the Ice-Type weakness.
This pseudo-Legendary is a fan favorite, as many will recognize it as Dragon Master Lance’s ace. It would make sense to make it a Dragon/Ice-Type, seeing as the sheer cold of the mountains in the UK are only suitable for the creatures that can survive the brutal cold. As Obstagoon and his line prove, the Galarian Pokémon at times will adapt to their environment for survival. Plus, imagine how handy it would be to have another Dragon/Ice-Type that isn’t a Legendary.
Galarian Arbok
Typing: Poison/Ground
Weaknesses: 2x Ground, Water, Psychic, Ice
Resistances: 1/2x Fighting, Rock, Bug, Fairy, 1/4x Poison, Immune to Electric
Though the addition of the Ground-Type would give Galarian Arbok two more weaknesses, it would make up for that with the additions of one immunity and an added level of resistance to Poison-Type moves. Arbok hasn’t seen much competitive love in quite some time, and maybe that’s because his single typing of just Poison just isn’t enough to set give him a diverse enough movepool.
As cobras are often found dwelling underground, it would make sense to add the Ground-Type onto Arbok’s Typing. It would be the first of the dual-Typing since the Nidoran lines, and would likely give it access to moves like Fissure and Earthquake. Perhaps there could be some new Physical Poison-Type moves added into the Galarian Pokémon games with Galarian Arbok?
Galarian Stantler
Typing: Normal/Fairy
Weaknesses: 2x Poison, Steel
Resistances: 1/2x Bug, Dark, Immune to Ghost and Dragon
Stantler is a Pokémon with the potential to be a powerhouse, but hasn’t quite been able to achieve that with his vanilla Normal-Typing. It is a Pokémon that has been long overlooked, but would be able to hold his own with the two added resistances and impressive dual immunities to Ghost and Dragon types.
He would shine with Play Rough, and perhaps a new Fairy-Type physical move. It’s a shame that moves like Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam are special moves, but Stantler isn’t out of the running quite yet if he gains this useful dual Typing.
Galarian Rapidash
Typing: Fire/Water
Weaknesses: 2x Ground, Rock, Electric
Resistances: 1/2x Bug, Fairy, 1/4x Steel, Fairy, Ice
This cute horse Pokémon would benefit greatly from the added 1/4x resistance to Steel, Fairy, and Ice-Type moves. It would trade off a Water weakness for Electric, and would lose its resistance to Grass-Type moves, but the benefits of what it gains far outweigh what it loses.
While it could be argued that Rapidash is a fairytale-like creature as it is a Unicorn, it would also make sense if it adapted to the rainy weather of the UK by losing its weakness to Water. It would be a pleasant Pokémon to ride the Galarian region plains with, as it would the lukewarm steam emanating from the ‘mon would keep Trainers warm during the colder months of Galar.
As Volcanion is currently the only other Fire/Water-Type, it would make Galarian Rapidash quite the standout. Make Rapidash relevant again, Game Freak! With moves like Scald, and perhaps even Steam Eruption, Rapidash could give a lot of top contenders in the current meta a run for their money.